Ajax opened the eyes that he had scrunched shut and saw that Farsan was no longer next to him, and that he was definitely not in Makarett. He looked around and saw nothing but snow and ice as far as his eyes could see, with the sun perceptibly vanishing behind the horizon. He should have been shivering, but despite not wearing heavy clothes he was not cold at all.
The sun finished its dive and only then did Ajax see a figure walking towards him, previously hidden by the glare, holding a lit torch aloft. In what seemed like far too short a time to cross the distance, the figure, a Shvarlt man, was only a few rods away. “Be not afraid, my chosen herald.” The voice was deep and reassuring, coming from a mouth nearly hidden behind tusks and mustache. “I plucked you from the space between, and we have but a few moments here before I will have to release you. No time is passing for your friend, or anyone else for that matter. But this was too important, I needed your undivided attention.” Chernoff, the god of knowledge, said.
“You honor me, my Lord.” Ajax said as he bowed deeply. “I am surely but one of your many servants.”
“The existence of other heralds of mine does not diminish your own importance.” Chernoff said. He dropped the torch and when it landed it became a campfire. Chernoff sat down on a bone and leather camp stool that had similarly sprang into being. “Sit. We have much to discuss.”
“How may I serve you?” Ajax said, as he turned and found another camp stool behind him.
“Ko’Vum is rising. His people are marching to the Sliver’s beat. You already know this.” Chernoff said, referring to the god of war and patron of the Tenkan race. “Where Ko’Vum goes, Zabeent often follows. She has had her eyes set on Wellunda for a long time.”
“Oppression? Wellunda has been a peaceful and prosperous island nation for hundreds of years. The royal family is loved. What inroad could Zabeent think exists?” Ajax asked.
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“The Slivers are strongest among their own people. Wellunda and the royals are majority Human. Zabeent hungers for influence in the royal family. Through them, oppression can thrive.” Chernoff leaned forward and rubbed his hands together in front of the fire. “She is particularly interested in your young friend.”
“Farsan? He’s a kind soul. I don’t think he has a mean bone in his body.” Ajax insisted.
“He is young. The young have time to change, to be molded. He has tasted loss, and he will taste more.” Chernoff emphasized the last part.
“What do you mean?” Ajax asked.
Chernoff raised his head to look at the sky. “Look at the stars Ajax.” Ajax looked. He saw a wondrous multitude of stars and constellations, far more than he was used to. “For you, they are eternal, unchanging. But that is but a matter of perspective. Given a long enough time frame, even the stars move, age, and die.” Chernoff looked back to Ajax. “Approaching events, the future, are likewise not immutable or inevitable. I can see the path they are taking. I can nudge, but so can the other Slivers.”
“What is going to happen? What loss is Farsan going to have?” Ajax said with growing urgency and concern for his friend.
“Specific knowledge is too dangerous. Knowledge itself is dangerous, don’t you think?” Chernoff smiled at his self deprecating joke. “Giving you this warning is all I can do. Anything more and the paths become convoluted, chaotic, unpredictable.”
“What should I do?”
“His cousin, Dutin, was Purgu’s champion. Foundations. Farsan’s foundation is unstable, and will become even more so. Be there for him. Your stability can keep him from being open to Zabeent.” Chernoff stood up and dusted himself off. Ajax stood as well. “Our time is growing short. Tell no one of this, my trusted herald. You are worthy of guarding knowledge.” Ajax heard a whooshing sound behind him. He turned and saw a portal like he had just stepped through a few moments ago. Chernoff stepped abreast with him and put a hand on Ajax’s shoulder. “Trust your instincts. I will be watching over you. Go now, Ajax.”
Ajax stepped forward into the portal with much less apprehension than he had before.